Librarian and Reading Champion - Aylesbury High School (Girls)

Overview

Term time only

Salary Type: Range 4-5 (dependent on experience)

Salary details: £28,526-£34,253

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: 36.5 per week Monday to Thursday 8.15am-4.45pm, Friday 8.15am -3.45pm (1 hour for lunch) Term-time + 5 INSET day + one week in Summer Holidays

Closing date: Friday 6th June 2025 @ 9am

Interviews to be held: After the closing date

Start date: July 2025

About us

Aylesbury High School (AHS) is a forward-thinking girls’ grammar school that values both academic and pastoral excellence and co-curricular opportunities with the vision of developing uniquely talented young adults, who are independent, strong and confident

We create a welcoming environment which draws the very best from all in our community. Achieved by providing an ambitious education that stimulates creative and critical thinking, values diversity and facilitates dynamic personal development.

The AHS values are Confidence, Respect, Engagement, Aspiration, Teamwork and Enjoyment and we want all our community to experience, develop and demonstrate these characteristics both within the curriculum and through our extensive co-curricular offering.

Website: http://www.ahs.bucks.sch.uk/about-the-school/staff-vacancies/

About the role

The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties that may be required from time to time within the general scope of the post. Any such duties should not substantially change the general character of the post.

Library Management:
Oversee the day-to-day operation of the school library, ensuring a welcoming, organised, and stimulating learning environment.
Develop and curate a diverse and relevant collection of books, periodicals, digital resources, and other learning materials (such as JSTOR and ePlatform for fiction and wellbeing books), taking into account the curriculum needs and students' interests.
Manage the library budget effectively, including ordering new resources, maintaining subscriptions, and overseeing stock control.
Implement and maintain an efficient library management system (we currently use Oliver) for cataloguing, lending, and tracking resources, including chasing any overdue loans and charges.
Provide guidance and support to students and staff in accessing and utilizing library resources, both physical and digital, including inducting new staff and students to the library.
Develop, implement and evaluate library policies, procedures and development plans to improve service provision and efficiency.
Conduct regular audits of library resources and manage weeding and disposal of outdated or damaged materials.
Lead, write and deliver information literacy (including referencing) sessions for Year 7, Year 10/11 and Year 12/13.
Liaise with internal personnel (e.g. Finance and Facilities) to ensure service levels and efficiency of service.
Manage and track daily Chromebook loans from the library.
Supervise student behaviour in all Library areas and uphold the school behaviour policy during the school day.
Oversee Sixth Form Study Supervision and occasional cover lessons in the library as required.

Reading Champion:
Lead, develop and implement strategies to promote reading for pleasure across the school, targeting all year groups and abilities.
Organise and facilitate reading-related events and activities, such as book clubs, author visits, reading challenges, and literacy celebrations.
Collaborate with teachers and curriculum leaders to integrate reading initiatives into subject areas and support literacy development across the curriculum.
Keep up-to-date with current trends in children's and young adult literature and reading pedagogy.
Liaise with parents and carers to promote reading at home and involve them in school reading initiatives.
Collect and analyse data on reading engagement and attainment to inform future strategies and measure impact.
Create engaging displays and promotional materials to highlight library resources and reading opportunities.
Work closely with the English department and Whole School Literacy coordinator to contribute to the development of the school's overall literacy strategy.

General Responsibilities:
Contribute to the wider life of the school.
Attend relevant training and professional development opportunities.
Adhere to all school policies and procedures, including safeguarding and health and safety.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments.

About you

Essential:
Demonstrable passion for literature and promoting reading to young people.
Excellent knowledge of children's and young adult literature.
Strong organisational and administrative skills, including experience of managing a library or information resource.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, and parents.
Experience of using library management systems and other relevant IT applications.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
A commitment to the safeguarding and well-being of children.
Strong literacy and numeracy skills.

Desirable:
A relevant library qualification (e.g., CILIP Chartership or equivalent experience).
Experience of working in a school library environment.
Experience of planning and delivering reading-related events and activities.
Knowledge of current educational initiatives related to literacy.
Experience of working with students with diverse learning needs.
Familiarity with digital reading platforms and resources

Other information

Please write a covering letter addressed to Lisa Greenway and email to [email protected]. along with an Application form

Closing date: Friday 6th June 2025 @ 9am

CVs alone cannot be accepted for safeguarding reasons.

If you are shortlisted for this post, you will also be required to complete a self-disclosure form as part of the recruitment process; this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Our Safeguarding Statement is attached. The appointment will be subject to references, which are satisfactory for the advertised post, an enhanced DBS check with a Child Barred List check, identity checks, prohibition orders and qualification checks as appropriate.

AHS is an equal opportunities employer

We encourage early applications for all vacancies and reserve the right to close our vacancies at any time should the right candidates be found.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 174 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and convictions cautions
• All adult cautions and spent convictions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) guidance or Ministry of Justice (MOJ) guidance (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.